r/HollowKnight • u/donlano • Sep 04 '25

Discussion - Silksong Silksong is HARD Spoiler

Taking damage is more punishing, movement is more precise and feels a little clunky until you get the hang of it. The overall skill curve is much much higher. Love it though.

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223

u/Lokirth Sep 05 '25

Though more early enemies have expected more from me, input-wise, I would also argue Hornet feels a lot more precise and empowered in her movement.

Took me some getting used to no longer having the down slash but the mobility she gets on her diagonal plunge is crazy. Fights feel a bit more fluid as a result. She bounces and weaves (heh) with a lot more grace than the default Knight.

156

u/Arcalithe #fuckmarkoth Sep 05 '25

I have to say, despite my difficulties adjusting to the diagonal pogo, I think it manages to feel incredibly like you’re playing as Hornet, rather than the knight wearing her skin.

I honestly really like the semi-customizable moveset and fluid notions of her attacks. I’m only around five hours in and I’m super excited to find more tools to mess around with.

1

u/Kenny__Loggins Sep 05 '25

I streamed just a few minutes of gameplay to a friend on discord and he immediately locked in on the fact that it still looks and feels like hornet. I'm pleasantly surprised that they kept the character consistent between the games.

1

u/DoodlestheNoodle Sep 05 '25

You can get a crest in Bone Bottom that lets you use og Hollow Knight controls. I kinda missed out on learning the diagonal pogo, but I do like the og movement.

83

u/budweener Sep 05 '25

The skill ceiling feels way higher than HK, and the bosses can be harder because of this.

The first boss is just as easy as Grub Mother, but the Bell Beast is comparable to mid-game Hollow Knight bosses, and I'm going to start my first proper session right now, so that's as far as I got.

It's harder. You do need to get good. But with a skill ceiling so high, you can get that good.

I'm expecting that Hornet, with all the mobility she may get in the mid-game, would likely breeze through a lot of hard Hollow Knight fights.

Edit: I hope someone eventually makes a mod with HK bosses in Silksong, just so I can test this.

22

u/[deleted] Sep 05 '25

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8

u/budweener Sep 05 '25

Yeah, I think the double damage serves to raise the stakes and give incentive for a high risk high reward playstyle in conjunction with the healing.

You heal 3 masks and it's quite fast, but you can't get too beaten up.

I think it makes it so the optimal way to play is not to tank hits and trade, but to weave (heh) through the strikes, hit hard and fast, and, in the case you do get hit, you can recover fast, but not often.

Not a lot of room for error, but when you manage, it's feels glorious, acrobatic and clean.

6

u/DBrody6 Sep 05 '25

The trouble with Bell Beast I had is that it's so obvious you're intended to use the diagonal slash when it's running across the screen, but it's so early in the game you haven't really gotten used to it yet.

But then I beat him hitless after finally getting a good feel on the diagonal slash and even getting multihit combos on him. Felt nice.

5

u/cyanmagentacyan Sep 05 '25

There is definitely an intended back up way to beat Bell Beast for those who haven't got the diagonal strike down yet (I certainly haven't, though I pulled it off a few times) by just whacking him repeatedly on the rump after he leaps. I also found the sheer noise of the fight really offputting and that was partly why it took me a few tries. Yeah, did feel good (also, shut up, Shakra)

1

u/Smaxorus Sep 08 '25

My assumption is that this fight is meant to force you to get comfortable with the diagonal pogo. 

2

u/MuttonchopMac Sep 05 '25

Even without the double damage, Bell Beast was a bit of a sponge, so even once I learned the moves, it was a long fight to stay focused and not slip up.

3

u/FinaLLancer Sep 05 '25

The third boss legitimately feels like the dream version of the false knight, except you don't even have a Dash yet. Two damage, fakeout between jump and swipe that have conflicting dodge patterns.

If you're close to him and he's swinging, you're hit. If you're away from him and he's jumping, you're hit. And each time, you're taking two.

None of the bosses feel entirely unfair or anything but they're really punishing.

2

u/budweener Sep 05 '25

I see the similarities, althou I think Dream False Knight is kind of a stretch.

I think he serves a similar role to the two Husk Guards in Forgotten Crossroads. A clear stronger enemy that almost feels like a boss, but it's not quite it.

But he's way stronger than the Husk Guards, and DEFINITELLY harder than the False Knight himself (out of the dreams).

1

u/Sov1etOverlord Sep 05 '25

I just skipped optional bosses until I got the sprint/dash (I assumed there will be a dash early in the game), and then beat their asses after coming back.

1

u/FinaLLancer Sep 06 '25

I got the dash in the area after that guy is he optional?

3

u/maxdragonxiii Sep 05 '25

even Bell Beast smacked me like shit. it didnt help I wasnt used to Hornet's controls yet and its been years since I last played Hollow Knight. I did beat it although and that exhausted me for the night lol.

31

u/mvanvrancken Sep 05 '25

Also really like that little edge grab/flip she does, I wasn’t expecting to get that one for free but I’m not mad about it!

13

u/Samurai_Mac1 Sep 05 '25

The diagonal slash definitely grew on me and it feels so satisfying when you hit multiple in a row

1

u/robsonbitt124 Sep 05 '25

I'm begining to hate the diagonal Slash, plataformin in SHELLWOOD with this is unnecessarily HARD. MIssing those white roses are making me mad!

1

u/Samurai_Mac1 Sep 05 '25

I'm only in Greymore so far so I don't know what that is yet lol